A 10-year-old Japanese girl is set to become the youngest professional player of the Asian board game "Go" next month.

At a ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday, Sumire Nakamura from Osaka and 12 others received their "sho-dan" licenses, the lowest professional rank. The players turn professional on April 1.

The Japan Go Association, or Nihon Ki-in, decided in January to induct Nakamura into the professional ranks under a special quota to develop players to rival champions in China and South Korea, where the game is also popular.

Nakamura says she aims to become one of the world's top players.

Risa Ueno from Tokyo will become the third-youngest female professional at age 12 years and 9 months. She finished first in a test to recruit female players.

Ueno said she appreciates the people who have supported her and hopes to win titles in the game.

The government will no longer use the term "lifelong singles" as a label for people who have not married by age 50, deeming the term inaccurate as Japanese are increasingly tying the knot later in life, officials said Thursday. (Japan Today)

Japan's new supercomputer Fugaku is set to begin operations around 2021 with the country aiming to regain the title of building the world's fastest computer, replacing its current supercomputer K, government-backed research institute Riken said Thursday. (Japan Times)

Kyoto Prefectural Police have arrested a 23-year-old male Australian national who is suspected of scrawling graffiti in dozens of locations in Kyoto City, reports Fuji News Network (May 22). (tokyoreporter.com)

The International Olympic Committee says boxing is set to maintain its place in the 2020 Tokyo Games, but that the sport's international association should be excluded from organizing the events due to a number of problems.
(NHK)